Was Elihu a good comforter?

[jgnat]

I am talking about the book of Job here. Elihu was the fourth and most spectacular "comforter". Shortly afterwards, God shows up in power and strength and sorts everyone out. After the dust settles, Elihu is nowhere to be found. God never even mentions him.

Does that mean that Elihu's judgement was approved of God? I think not.

I read and extract taken from Robert Sutherland's new book "Putting God on Trial: The Biblical Book of Job" (Trafford, Victoria, 2004) that suggests that Elihu was a hypocrite not even worthy of divine mention.

What say you?

 

[AngCath]

the Elihu section was probably added by a later editor and that is why he is not mentioned later.

 

[daveleau]

I am averse to assuming the Bible was edited when there is not an immediate answer. The critique that the text is written differently fits with the idea that these are the words of Elihu, rather than the words of the author. In other words, Elihu is being quoted, hence the difference in style.

Elihu starts of very proud and self-righteous. He says a lot of good things, but behind them are a self-importance. Later, he seems to realize this and changes his tone. It could be that this repentance, not seen in Job's other friends, is the reason he is not mentioned.

 

[jgnat]

So in a nutshell, AngCath, you get around the apparent discrepancy by suggesting it was an addition. And DaveLeau, that his speech improves as it goes along. You might have something there. Rash young men tend to temper their speech AFTER they've put their foot in it.

I'm not so interested apologizing for it's structure , but rather discussing the personalities of the story. Is Elihu really portrayed as the ideal comforer? The man who got it right?

 

[AngCath]

I'm not so interested apologizing for it's structure , but rather discussing the personalities of the story. Is Elihu really portrayed as the ideal comforer? The man who got it right?

No, Elihu is not an ideal comforter.